Caleb Harmel registers one of his 47 tackles on the season, to go with three interceptions and a 52-yard touchdown run on a fake punt to boot. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com

By Riley Zayas
Special to D3football.com

It is not an uncommon occurrence for Trinity University head coach Jerheme Urban to look out of his office on a given afternoon and see his star linebacker, Caleb Harmel, walking down the hall, with a group of linebackers trailing close behind. They are, of course, heading to study game video, preparing for Saturday’s game and perfecting their own craft at the same time. 

These video sessions are optional, of course. But to achieve a Top 10 ranking, to remain atop the Southern Athletic Association, to book a third straight trip to the NCAA playoffs, it is a standard that has been set. And leading that expectation of excellence on the defensive side is Harmel, an All-America, do-it-all sort of defender in his fifth year at Trinity. 

Defense Week features

• Justin Blazek, UW-Platteville
• Robert Coury, Carnegie Mellon
• Owen Grover, Wartburg
• Caleb Harmel, Trinity (Texas)
• Rossy Moore, Mount Union
• Luke Schuermann, Johns Hopkins
• More features

“Monday through Thursday, we start [practice] at 6 a.m.,” Urban said recently. “They’re generally done about 9 a.m., and then they go be students. So it’s been a long day for those guys, and then when I’m in my office, to see Caleb come back in and bring those other linebackers in, when it’s not a mandatory film session, and they go watch film with coach Mihaluk and they sit down and watch extra film for an hour. He’s doing it on his own too. It’s important to him. He knows, especially as a captain, and with everything we ask him to do, that while there are 10 other pieces who are all doing their respective role on the field, a lot of the defense is going to run through him.”

Harmel’s freshman year in San Antonio coincided with the fulfillment of a dream for Trinity’s 2019 class, whose long-term goal had been winning a league title by the time their careers ended in San Antonio. He began the year as a special teamer, then eventually contributed to the defense as injuries came into play for the Tiger linebacking corps. But more than just the game experience, Harmel saw exceptional leadership firsthand. 

“They committed to winning the last seven games of their season and we shared that conference title,” Urban said of the 2019 senior class. “I think that Caleb had a great set of examples with those guys in terms of leadership and what it looked like.”

The example and standard set was not lost on Harmel. He emulated much of what the upperclassmen did, especially considering the linebacker position was brand new to him. A stellar quarterback and defensive lineman at tiny Burton High School, Harmel had seen plenty of action on both sides of the ball through his prep career. But upon arrival in San Antonio, a decision had to be made. And it was his decision to make. 

“They said, ‘We love what we see on offense, [but] we have a good quarterback right now. We really love what we see on defense. It’s up to you.’ Obviously, I wanted to hit the field as fast as I could, so I decided to go on defense.”

Little did anyone know the magnitude of that decision for Harmel to elect the defensive side of the ball. 

At the time, Tucker Horn was also a first-year player in the program, a transfer quarterback from Abilene Christian, who would make his Trinity debut on the same day Harmel made his: Sept. 5, 2019. 

Through the next four years, the duo has formed an accomplished one-two, offense-defense punch that has helped the Tigers dominate in the SAA. Horn has more or less led the charge when Trinity has the ball, and Harmel’s play anchors a defense that is currently surrendering just 14.3 points per game against conference foes. 

“Lord willing, I get to coach a long time and have some incredible young men who come and want to be part of this thing,” Urban said. “But I don’t know if we’ll ever get a chance to have the quarterback-middle linebacker battles that we have right now. They’ve both played so much football. They have a deep friendship. The chess battles [in practice] when we go good-on-good are really fun.” 

The signs of Harmel’s experience level are noticeable; an innate ability to read the eyes of an opposing quarterback, polished technique, and vocal leadership. It has made Harmel a two-time D3football.com All-America selection, and a linebacker who is on the fast track to a third such honor. Through Trinity’s first seven games, Harmel averaged just short of 7.0 tackles per game, and recorded seven tackles for loss to go along with three interceptions. 

That has all stemmed from being a committed student, which is fitting considering Trinity’s high-academic reputation within the state of Texas. 

“It was definitely a lot to learn technique-wise at first, with gaps, knowing where I fit, where I dropped in coverage,” Harmel noted. “But I talked to the coaches, and watched the upperclassmen, and took the best parts of their game. 

“Also just talking to the D-line, and the DBs, seeing where they’re at, what their drops are like, how the D-line is rushing, what technique they are in to start the play – that’s allowed me to know where to be. But also trusting the guys around me. I can’t make any of the plays that I do without the D-line getting a hand in the face, the DBs locking up everybody else. It’s a huge blessing to play with these guys on this team.”

Harmel is at the center of much of what Trinity does defensively. His versatility warrants it. Whether it be aiding in run support, covering a running back out of the backfield on a passing play, or spying the opposing signal caller, Harmel brings a significant skill set to the table. And it is one that Urban and his staff have fully utilized, especially as Harmel’s football IQ expanded. 

“I’ve referenced several times that we can be in base defense and dime defense at the same time just by moving him into a different spot,” Urban said, noting the similarities between Harmel and Dallas Cowboys standout linebacker Micah Parsons. “The fact that he can man up against slot receivers at our level or play middle-hole safety in our cover 2 and still be fast enough to run the alley is very unique.”

All of that to say, Trinity has a special talent in Harmel. “Savvy” is a word Urban uses to describe his style, and it could not be more accurate. Harmel’s decision-making on the field is perhaps just as important as the athleticism itself. He anticipates the opponent’s next move from his spot in the middle of the Tiger defense with remarkable accuracy. His answer to a question about the week-to-week preparation reveals that much. 

“I want to make sure I understand the pass routes,” Harmel said. “If the No. 2 receiver goes out to my side, what am I expecting on the back side? What am I expecting from the No. 1 receiver on the field side? That’s helped me a lot. 

“I know on one of my interceptions against Mary Hardin-Baylor, I saw the No. 2 receiver get out quick, so I knew there would be a big dig coming over from the boundary side. I was able to speed over there and get the interception.”

That process of thinking is something that separates Harmel as a top-level defender. Experience plays into that greatly as well. Heading into Saturday’s home duel with Millsaps, Harmel is preparing for his 43rd game with the Tigers, and in his time at Trinity, the fifth-year senior has not missed a game. 

Yet, there is not a sense of entitlement because of his seniority, Urban says. If anything, the workman-like approach seen from Harmel on a day-to-day basis has not changed since his freshman year. The only thing that is different is his role within the locker room, emerging as a player who can spearhead the defensive effort. 

“He never complains,” Urban added. “It’s not about him. He doesn’t complain about playing dime safety, instead of being in the box and loading up on extra tackles. We can move him all over the field. You can’t replace him. He tries to make every opportunity count.”

It was opportunities that brought him to Trinity in the first place. The football program, rising under Urban’s leadership, certainly provided the chance for Harmel to compete for a national title contender. And the academic level found on the 125-acre campus in San Antonio demands nothing short of a dedicated work ethic, which leads to great opportunities down the road. 

“I came to a game [when I was being recruited] and learned a little more about Trinity,” Harmel said. “The big thing for me was that it was a great academic school. Trinity is talked up there with Rice in Texas in terms of having a great academic program. Along with that, Coach Urban talked about his vision for this program and what it could be. That was the main thing.”

He has gotten the best of both worlds through the last four years, and done it alongside a group whose commitment to excellence mirrors his own. It is not a surprise, then, that Trinity enters the final three weeks of the regular season ranked No. 6 in the nation. 

“We’re all here because we love football but we’re also working hard in the classroom,” Harmel said. “You don’t come here if you don’t want a great education. Everybody is bought into that. Everybody is bought into the football program. That helps a lot with that bond that we have.”

That bond runs deep, as anyone in the program will tell you. Especially amongst Horn, Harmel, and the entire unit of fifth-year seniors on the roster. Camaraderie is a centerpiece of the success, not just in 2023, but in the seasons that have led up to this one as well. The winding road that includes playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022, SAA titles, and monumental victories over programs such as Mary Hardin-Baylor, Wheaton, and Hardin-Simmons, is leading towards a finale. And Harmel is determined to make the most of the rest of his time as a Tiger. 

“I think it’s very easy to think about this being my last season, and wanting to win a national championship and be the best team that Trinity has ever had,” Harmel noted. “But I think it’s very easy to get lost in that, when you’re focused on that end goal. Days fly by. Practices fly by. So I think the only way to really cherish every moment is to enjoy the practices. Enjoy the grind. Enjoy the time we all have playing together. That’s what I’m trying to do.”